Fifth Presence Almanac

PRESENCE ALMANAC

Cover photo by Elliott Desai

Inside Cover photo by Elliott Desai

FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF ARTS & CULTURE

Today is level 9968.

For you, it might be level 6000, level 13000 or even level 20000.

As I write this introduction for the Fifth Chronicle, I’d like to offer a fun approach to navigating your daily life.

It’s clear that humans in the 21st century are a population without many guiding philosophies.

So when did you materialize on earth? And how many days ago was that? That’s today’s level.

I read Ready Player One by Ernest Cline last week, and the main character explores each day through the lens of a video game.

Literally - all his fears, joys, and opportunities exist inside a universe named OASIS. His name is Wade Watts, and he goes by “Parzival” in the virtual reality.

I included the quote, “Life is a game played with humor and humaneness” in last week’s chronicle, and the goal in both video games and real life is learning how to sustain yourself.

Being intentional with where you are, educating yourself through art, having defenses when someone crosses a boundary, hearing synchronicities around the world...

Parzival assesses the other characters based on their experience level, achievements, points, credits, and the tools, artifacts and magical

items in their inventory.

It’s clear I spend more time sitting in public parks, moving as slowly as possible, and walking miles around cities than I do playing video games.

Yet I’m amazed by the artistry and attention that goes into building these worlds and developing thrilling experiences for the audience.

These games are rewarding roadmaps for the players, and each level trains them in ideologies that could be applied in the real world.

By adopting video game principles and good storytelling, we can begin to subvert typical measures of life.

So I was born on May 1, 1996. It was a Wednesday evening in Michigan.

Today is August 16, 2023 - the beginning of a new moon cycle and also a Wednesday. The number of days between these dates is 9,968.

When entering a new level of a video game, every element of the space is designed and detailed specifically for you to experience it.

The portal you transport through, the clouds, the skyline, everything.

As you walk around this level, you start to notice the elements that feel familiar, surprising, desirable, scary… the details reveal themself without even trying to look for them.

Along this path, you’ll encounter an avatar with a clue, a wizard with a scroll, a goblin to thwart, and so on and so forth. Each level has a unique layout and objective - and when you die, it’s game over. But c’est la vie, because it was thrilling to play.

In these video games, you also need to unlock achievements to access certain character traits, quests, and experience points.

When I was finishing Ready Player One, I was on a flight from Torino, Italy to Barcelona, Spain. That was on August 8, 2023 - level 9960.

On that level, I woke up at 7:45 CET in my apartment near Piazza Statuto, packed up my belongings and traversed Via dei Quartieri until I arrived at Porta Susa.

I then boarded a bus at 9:51 CET and headed to Caselle Torinese. When I arrived, I logged onto the internet to publish the Fourth Chronicle and then walked onto an airplane.

By 18:00 CET, I arrived in a municipality named El Prat de Llobregat, transported to Barri Gòtic and completed my pilgrimagewalking to lodging in El Poblenou.

I could feel my energy levels depleting, and I was wilting quite fast.

So after a shower, change of clothes, and enjoying an IPA from the lobby bar, I entered Eixample at 22:14 CET.

After walking around surrounding streets, my first meal was paella at a small tapas restaurant on Carrer de la Marina, and then Guinness near Plaça de la Sagrada Família while looking up at Antoni Gaudí’s creation.

As level 9960 came to an end, I flipped to the last page of Ready Player One and entered into level 9961 of my real life at 00:01 CET.

When recounted this way, each day of your life is the newest, most fascinating and unexplored level.

And imagine viewing your morning routine, and the methods you use to combat woefulness, as these “points” you’re trying acquire before you’re able to be in action at all.

Let’s call these “achievement” points, and they’re simply the activities you want and love to do.

When I woke up on level 9965, I could feel some thoughts starting to weigh on my mind.

So here are my achievement points that I knew I needed to complete to be my best self on every level:

A) Showering

B) Turning on music

C) Brushing my teeth

D) Walking around

E) Gratitude for the sun

F) Enjoying food and water

G) Drinking coffee or tea

H) Reading unserious books

I) Writing or drawing

J) Dedicating time to art

Completed.

And when I reviewed the earlier woes with a healthy lens on life, they only weighed on me like a fly.

Another quote I love from Alan Watts is the way he frames how we can witness each day:

Instead of going outside and seeing the moon and stars, imagine these planets are presenting themselves to you in the exact moment you’re meant to see them.

That perspective, paired with viewing today as Level 9968, is a softer and more energizing way to experience life.

And dreamier. For me, this combo helps me look forward to surprises and accept daily changes.

This Fifth Chronicle showcases work by artists who truly lean into their gifts, and three spaces where I recommend spending an afternoon.

Featuring:

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

Experience more than twelve unique gardens, view world-renowned art, access research, learn about the formidable Huntington family, and enjoy events through their weekly public programming.

Philosophical Research Society

LA-based nonprofit founded in 1934 by scholar and author Manly Palmer Hall. The campus includes an auditorium, bookstore, lecture room, library, and gallery to be a center for people to gather and for their events.

Manly P. Hall traveled the world, leading to a collection of rare manuscripts, artwork, and esoterica that became the foundation for the Philsophical Research Society library.

The artbook publisher TASCHEN hosted a panel at PRS to celebrate their new box set release of Hall’s iconic book “The Secret Teachings of All Ages.” I purchased the blue-cover edition and “Plant Magik” from their Library of Esoterica collection.

Doodle Gang at Secret Walls

First-come, first-served seating to be among a crowd of artists who prioritized an evening of drawing.

David Kordansky Gallery

Celebrating its 20th anniversary by exhibiting pieces from every artist they represent. My favorite works are made by Sam Gilliam, Aaron Curry, William E. Jones, Mary Weatherford and Lucy Bull.

Also showcasing pieces from Guan Xiao and Mai-Thu Perret’s solo shows at the gallery in 2023.

Published on August 16 at 2:38 AM.

Sincerely, Elliott Desai

SAN MARINO

Photo by Elliott Desai

Photo by Elliott Desai

Photo by Elliott Desai

Photo by Elliott Desai

Photo by Elliott Desai

LOS FELIZ

Photo by Elliott Desai

Photo by Elliott Desai

Photo by Elliott Desai

Photo by Elliott Desai

MID CITY

MID-WILSHIRE

Image courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery

© Sam Gilliam | Untitled, 2018 David Kordansky Gallery’s 20th Anniversary

Image courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery

© Aaron Curry | Machine Sky, 2023 David Kordansky Gallery’s 20th Anniversary

Image courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery © Mary Weatherford | Ocean View, 2021 - 2023 David Kordansky Gallery’s 20th Anniversary

Image courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery

© William E. Jones | Maurice Blanchot, 2023 David Kordansky Gallery’s 20th Anniversary

Image courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery

© William E. Jones | Sid Vicious, 2023 David Kordansky Gallery’s 20th Anniversary

David Kordansky Gallery’s 20th Anniversary

© Guan Xiao 2023

From Leaves to Shields

Image courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery

Image courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery

© Guan Xiao | FEET, V7V bow, 2023

From Leaves to Shields

© Guan Xiao | FEET, 0&Q storm, 2023

From Leaves to Shields

Image courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery

Image courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery © Mai-Thu Perret | The three garden paths were overrun with weeds, but the pines and chrysanthemums were still there, 2023 | Mother Sky

Image courtesy of David Kordansky Gallery

SAN MARINO LOS FELIZ

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

Open 10 AM - 5 PM every day (closed Tuesdays)

1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108

huntington.org

The Philosophical Research Society

Open Tuesdays through Fridays

12-6 PM

3910 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

prs.org

MID CITY

DOODLE GANG

@doodlegang_la

Secret Walls HQ

2272 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006

secretwalls.world

MID-WILSHIRE

David Kordansky Gallery 20th Anniversary

Sam Gilliam

davidkordanskygallery.com/ artist/sam-gilliam

Aaron Curry

davidkordanskygallery.com/ artist/aaron-curry

William E. Jones

davidkordanskygallery.com/ artist/william-e-jones

Mary Weatherford

davidkordanskygallery.com/artist/ mary-weatherford

Lucy Bull

davidkordanskygallery.com/ artist/lucy-bull Guan Xiao

From Leaves to Shields

May 13 – June 16, 2023

davidkordanskygallery.com/ artist/guan-xiao

Mai-Thu Perret

Mother Sky

March 18 - April 22, 2023

davidkordanskygallery.com/ artist/mai-thu-perret

David Kordansky Gallery

5130 W Edgewood Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90019

davidkordanskygallery.com

August 16 at 2:38 AM Los Angeles, CA

© Elliott Desai

presencealmanac.com